Intercultural Drop-in

Event open to all the HEC community: students, partners, professors, and staff members.

Once a month, the Language Resource Center invites you to its premises for a time of cultural exchange and discovery.

The concept is simple: take advantage of your lunch break to discuss a cross cultural topic in French or in English with other members of the HEC community and our team.

On the day, all you need to do is come to the LRC (uppermost floor of Building L) from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. Coffee/Tea is on us! 😊

Interested? Join us for an intercultural moment at the Language Resource Center:

Concepts of Politeness and Face-Saving Across Cultures (October 15)

Participants from diverse cultural backgrounds shared intriguing insights on politeness and face-saving practices. Discussions highlighted unique perspectives: for example, a French attendee emphasized the ritual of saying “bon appétit” before meals, while a Turkish participant shared that adding “please” can sometimes seem overly insistent in her culture. A Singaporean student explained that “please” is reserved for elders or formal situations, and casual greetings are often silent or a simple smile. In India, “Namaste” is used respectfully for elders. In Japan, politeness is communicated through nods rather than verbal greetings in professional settings.

The group also discussed face-saving approaches, noting that in Turkey and the UK, indirectness is preferred, while in France, direct responses are more common. This exchange deepened participants’ appreciation for global communication nuances, encouraging thoughtful, culturally aware interactions. >> Download supports <<